This resource is designed to help businesses understand the legal, social, and practical steps to recruit and support refugees and asylum seekers in the UK workforce.
Why support refugees into employment?
Employment is one of the most powerful ways to help refugees and asylum seekers rebuild their lives. Having a job provides financial independence, a sense of purpose, and a chance to contribute their skills and experience to the community.
For local employers, supporting refugees into work is an opportunity to make a real difference - creating inclusive workplaces while addressing skills gaps and labour shortages.
Oxfordshire has welcomed people through a range of government led resettlement schemes since 2016, including arrivals from Syria, Afghanistan, Hong Kong, and Ukraine. Helping new residents find meaningful work enables them to settle, integrate and thrive, while strengthening the local economy and community.
Refugees and asylum seekers often face significant barriers to securing long-term employment, including language challenges, unfamiliarity with local job markets, and gaps in their work history due to displacement. The different resettlement schemes offer varying levels of support with finances, housing and access to benefits, and refugees may face different barriers to employment. However, by welcoming these talented individuals into your workplace, you gain access to diverse skills, fresh perspectives, and a motivated workforce eager to contribute.
Explainer: What is the difference between refugees and asylum seekers?
Asylum seekers are fleeing persecution and going through the legal process of legal recognition in the UK. They are awaiting a decision on their residential status from the Home Office.
Depending on how long this decision takes, asylum seekers can fall into two categories:
• Asylum seekers with the right to work: have been waiting for a decision from the home office for a minimum of 12 months and have applied for and had granted permission to work, but are restricted to jobs on the Immigration Salary List. An asylum seeker with the right to work is not automatically a refugee as their claim has not yet been accepted by the Home Office.
• Asylum seekers without the right to work: May have had their right to work application rejected or not been in the country long enough. They are not allowed to work and rely on government support for accommodation and a small weekly wage.
Refugees are legally recognised by the Home Office and have been granted asylum. They have faced persecution in the past or are at risk of future persecution due to their race, religion, membership, social group or political opinion (according to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees). They have legal rights to do any work, and have access to public funds.
Refugees and asylum seekers are a diverse group, ranging from those who have no education to those who are highly skilled professionals in their home country. There is no one size fits all approach to supporting refugees into work.
Employers or job applicants can check their right to work on the UK Government’s right to work website. If a refugee candidate cannot show you documents because of an outstanding appeal, review, or application with the Home Office, employers can use the Home Office Employer Checking Service to confirm their right to work. Partner organisations, such as Breaking Barriers, can also help to manage right to work checks.
What are the benefits to your organisation?
Recruitment
Refugees can help fill skills gaps and labour shortages. Many bring strong experience and motivation to succeed in their new workplace.
Retention
Refugees are often loyal employees with lower turnover rates, helping to reduce recruitment and training costs.
Diversity
A diverse workforce brings fresh perspectives, creativity, and innovation. Welcoming refugees can strengthen your organisation’s culture and outlook.
Resilience
Many refugees have overcome significant challenges and demonstrate exceptional determination and adaptability — qualities that enrich any team.
Professional development
Employers can play a key role in helping refugees grow their careers through mentoring, training, and networking opportunities. This supports integration and builds stronger, more inclusive workplaces.
Unique skills
Refugees often have valuable cross-cultural understanding and language abilities, enhancing communication with clients and communities.
Challenges refugees face when seeking work
Recognition of qualifications and experience: Many refugees have professional qualifications and work experience from their home countries that aren’t formally recognised by UK employers. Long periods out of the labour market while seeking asylum can also lead to gaps in CVs and a lack of recent UK-based experience. As a result, highly qualified people often find themselves working well below their skill level.
Limited local networks: In the UK, many roles are filled through personal connections or informal recommendations, and refugees may not yet have access to these networks. Application processes, CV formats and interview styles can also differ from those they are used to.
Language barriers: While gaining employment is vital, taking the time to improve English skills can make a significant difference to long-term success and career progression. Once in work, however, refugees often struggle to find the time or resources to continue language learning or professional development.
Progression opportunities: Refugees who start in entry-level roles may find it difficult to move up without access to training, mentoring, or recognition of prior experience. This can leave them trapped in low-paid or insecure work despite having the skills and motivation to achieve more.
Employers who understand these challenges and offer targeted support - such as recognising overseas qualifications, providing mentoring, or allowing flexibility for language learning - can play a key role in helping refugees reach their potential.
How your organisation can support refugees into employment
Getting started
Even if you’re not ready to hire, there are many ways to support refugees into employment:
Work shadowing: Offer short-term placements that give refugees local work experience, boost confidence, and help them build UK references.
Mentoring: Provide guidance on job applications, interviews, and workplace culture. Mentoring builds confidence and helps people feel part of the community.
Volunteering opportunities: Encourage volunteering as a way to develop skills, meet people, and gain experience.
Entrepreneurial advice: Many refugees hope to start businesses but face barriers such as lack of finance or recognition of qualifications. Offering advice, mentoring or networking opportunities can make a real difference
Creating inclusive recruitment processes
Simple steps can make recruitment more inclusive and trauma informed.
Allow more time during interviews.
Offer training to hiring managers on trauma awareness and cultural sensitivity.
Provide flexible work arrangements or prayer spaces.
Useful resources
Browse the library of useful local and national resources below. They can offer different services and support to your organisation as you begin to
SOFEA
Delivers training and work placements for disadvantaged young people, including refugees, with a focus on confidence, employability, and progression into education or work.
SOFEA is a social enterprise based in Oxfordshire that supports vulnerable young people, including refugees and asylum seekers, to gain the skills, confidence, and experience they need to progress into employment or further education.
They offer a range of training and personal development programmes that combine practical work placements (often within their food redistribution network), employability coaching, and mental health support. Participants develop soft skills, improve their English, and gain confidence in a supportive, trauma-informed environment.
STEM Returners
Facilitates return-to-work programs in STEM fields, partnering with employers to offer paid placements and support for professionals, including refugees, re-entering the workforce.
Works with STEM employers to offer paid returnships for professionals who have had a career break, including refugees. Programmes include mentoring, upskilling, and confidence-building.
Refugee Resource
Provides psychological, therapeutic, and mentoring support to refugees and asylum seekers in Oxfordshire.
Refugee Resource offers services to help individuals overcome trauma-related barriers to employment and build the confidence and wellbeing needed to enter the workforce. They also educate employers on how to support refugee employees with complex trauma.
International Rescue Committee/Rescue UK
Offers tailored employment support for refugees and asylum seekers in the UK, including job readiness training, one-to-one casework, and sector-specific programs.
The IRC UK runs job readiness programmes for refugees, including sector-specific pathways in hospitality, care, and tech. Services include employability workshops, English for Work classes, mentoring, and employer partnerships to support inclusive recruitment.
Asylum welcome
Provides employment advice and support to asylum seekers and refugees in Oxfordshire, including job search assistance and work experience opportunities.
Based in Oxford, Asylum Welcome provides personalised employment support to refugees and asylum seekers, including CV building, job search guidance, help with Home Office applications, and access to training and volunteering opportunities. They also offer advice on rights to work and host community engagement sessions for employers.
Aspire
Non-profit offering employment support programmes for refugees
Aspire Oxfordshire offers tailored employment support for refugees, including work-focused English courses, job readiness workshops, and connections with local employers. They also provide digital access through device loans and internet support. With personalised one-to-one guidance and partnerships with local agencies, Aspire helps refugees overcome barriers to employment and supports their wider integration.
Case studies
Damascus Rose Kitchen, Oxford
A social enterprise founded by refugee women passionate about cooking and preserving their cultural heritage. Based at the Old Fire Station Café, they create delicious dishes while building independence, friendships, and English skills.
damascusrosekitchen.org
ODS Work Experience Programme
A local initiative offering work placements for refugees and asylum seekers to gain practical experience and confidence.
USE-IT! Programme, Birmingham
This NHS partnership identified medically trained refugees and helped them re-enter healthcare roles through English training and clinical placements - enabling more than 250 professionals to resume their medical careers.
Watch the video
Starbucks – Refugee Employment Initiative
Starbucks pledged to employ 10,000 refugees worldwide, including 500 in the UK. Participants receive tailored training, employability support, and guaranteed interviews. Sam from Syria joined the programme in 2017 and is now a supervisor and “coffee master.”
Ben & Jerry’s Ice Academy
Working with the Entrepreneurial Refugee Network (TERN), Ben & Jerry’s supports aspiring refugee entrepreneurs. Participants gain business skills, mentoring, and confidence to launch ventures - like Fatma from Yemen, who plans to introduce Yemeni pastries to UK audiences.
Success stories
Magda, Ukraine
Magda, a Ukrainian refugee, fled her home country in May 2022. Before leaving Ukraine, she worked as an assistant director in the film industry - a career she deeply loved. After arriving in Oxfordshire with her daughter, she found the experience initially frightening. The unfamiliar language and navigating public transport in a new country felt overwhelming.
However, Magda soon discovered the support offered by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) for Ukrainians. Through their programmes, she received cultural orientation, job skills training, wellbeing workshops, and guidance on navigating the unfamiliar UK job market. Thanks to this support, Magda now works as a support worker for a Ukrainian community organisation. While this role may not be as glamorous as her previous career in film, Rescue UK helped her find joy and purpose in it too.
Maryam, Afghanistan
Maryam is a refugee from Kabul, Afghanistan. Back home, she worked as an architect and urban designer - a role she was proud to hold, especially in a male-dominated field. After arriving in London, she received job readiness training to help her adapt to the UK workforce.
Today, Maryam is a freelance Urban Planning Consultant, working remotely on a sustainability initiative based in Kazakhstan. She considers herself one of the fortunate few who have been able to continue working in a field similar to the one she pursued in Afghanistan.
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